St. Tereza Mission Hospital Launches Neonatal Care Unit, Saving Precious Lives

By Baraka John

The administration of St Tereze Mission Hospital in Nzara County has officially launched a Neonatal care unit which was established early this year at the hospital.

Neonatal is a health care unit where infants born prematurely with low birth weight and with medical conditions are admitted.

Speaking at the opening of the unit on Friday, the medical director at St. Tereza Mission Hospital Mr. Mathias Kuichluoch said the unit aims to help the community in the surrounding areas by providing lifesaving treatments to babies born with health-related complications.

According to Mathias, the unit was established in June this year and equipped with two incubators through a partnership with the Catholic medical mission board and the administration of St Tereza Mission Hospital.  

He said 57 premature were recorded at the unit between June and September this year, out of which 10 died.   

Meanwhile the director general in the state ministry of health, Rose Obede commended St. Tereza Mission Hospital for closing the gaps through the opening of the new healthcare unit at the hospital.

Rose said the health ministry plans to equip St. Tereza with more medical staff to rescue the influx of patients there. 

Most of the health complications are now referred to St. Tereza Mission Hospital, and these include patients from Yambio and the surrounding areas.

However, the deputy director of the Catholic Organization for Peace and Development David Ngbaanisa Ariyo acknowledged the State Ministry of Health for always standing firm with St. Tereza Mission Hospital through its projects.

The neonatal care unit is part of any hospital which provides care for babies, soon after they are born.    

The major causes of low birth weight and premature birth are attributed to young mothers who conceive at an early age and develop the tendency to give birth before time because their bodies are not fully developed.